Railroad-crossing gate



L. YOUNGBLOOD. RAILROAD CROSSING GAT E.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. l9l9.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 E: c c c W I TNESSES L. YOUNGBLOOD.

RAILROAD cnossme GATE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. i9l9.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

" 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR. WW Lee [@unyblaod, I BY ATTORNEY.

* "UNITED srnrns LEE YOUNGBLOOD, or HAMMOND, Louisiana.

RAILROAD-CROSSING GATE.

Application filed June '7, 1919. Serial No. 302,500.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEE Yo NcBLooD,-a citizen of the United States,residing at Hammond, in the parish of Tangipahoa and State of Louisiana,have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Crossing Gates, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railroad crossing gates and has for an objectthe provision of a gate of simple and durable construction, which willbe automatically operated to close the crossing against the passage oftraific, upon the approach of a train.

Another object is the provision of a train operated gate which normallylies flush with the surface of the crossing and forms a part of theroadway, so as to permit the passage of trafiic when the gate is in alowered position, but will be automatically raised across the roadway bythe action of the approaching train through the means of suitableoperating mechanism located some distance 7 in advance of the crossing.

Other objects and advantages of the in venti on will appear as thefollowing description is read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view showing a railroad crossing of a double-tracksystem, the crossing being equipped with gates constructed in accordancewith the presentinvention, the gates being shown in lowered position toprovide a clear passage for traffic over the crossing.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on a line withthe center of one of the tracks.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a track taken on a line with thecenter of the crossing, the gates being shown in lowered position byfull lines and in raised position by dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of a track on a line with the gateoperating crank shaft.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the crossing on a linewith the gate shaft.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like characters of reference denotecorrespond-' ing parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, the tracks are lndioated at 10 and the crossing at 11.A. double track Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented Nov. 2.5, 1919.

system is illustrated, but as the gates upon each side of-the crossingare independent of one another, a description of one gate and itsoperating mechanism will suflioe for both, 7

Positioned transversely of the track in advance of the crossing, is acrankshaft 12, the bearings of which are located beneath the rails ofthe track, as shown at '13. This crank shaft is normally held in aninclined position through the medium of a spring 24, but the position ofthe crank shaft is such as to avoid contact with any portion of thelocomotive or cars of the tram passing thereover. One end of the crankshaft is extended beyond the rails, as

shown at 15 and has mounted upon its end a beveled pinion 16. Thispinion engages a similar pinion 17 located upon the end of a relativelylong shaft 18. The shaft 18 is mounted in suitable bearings 19 andextends longitudinally of and substantially parallel with the rails ofthe track.

The shaft 18 is provided with a crank 20, the length of which issubstantially co-eX- tensive with the width of the crossing 11.

Secured to the crank 20 is a gate 21 of any suitable or desiredconstruction, and this gate when inits normally lowered position isdesigned to lie flush with the surface of the roadway, being received ina suitable depression 22 provided in the roadway for this purpose. Thegate thus forms a portion of thesurfaceof the roadway when in itslowered position and traffic may pass freely thereover. Itsupper'surface is preferably provided with suitable indicia, for ex-.ample, the word Stop, so that when the gate is raised through the meansto be presentlydescribed, it will serve as a warning to and prevent thepassage of trafiic approaching the crossing. v Mounted in suitablebearings between the railsof the track and disposed longitudinally ofthe latter, is an operating lever 23, said lever being adapted tooverlie the crank shaft 12. The free end of the lever'23 is located inthe path of the approaching train and is adapted to be depressed bv thelatter to operate the crank shaft and through the medium of the gears 16and 17 rotates the shaft 18 and raise the gate. Connected to thedown-turned extremity of the lever 23 is one end of a spring 24, theopposite end of this spring being permanently secured so as to controlthe limit of forward movement of the lever 23. The purpose of thisspring is to turn the lever to its position over the crank shaft 23should the said lever be engaged by train backing or moving in a reversedirection. When so engaged the lever 23 will be swung over in itshearings in an opposite direction until after the passage of the train,whereupon the spring 24 will return the said lever to its position overthe crank shaft 12.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportionsand minor details of construction, and the right is here in reserved tomake such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A railroad crossing comprising a spring controlled crank shaftjournaled transversely of the track in advance of the crossing and innormally elevated position, said crank shaft being adapted to bedepressed by a passing t am, a shaft disposed parallel to the track andextending over the crossing and operatively connected to the crankshaft, whereby a rotation of the latter will rotate the second mentionedshaft and a gate normally positioned flush with the crossing surface anddisposed transversely of the same and operated by depressing the crankshaft.

2. A railroad crossing comprising a spring controlled crank shaftjournaled transversely of the track in advance of the cross ing and innormally elevated position, a spring controlled longitudinally extendinginclined lever disposed above the crank shaft in the path of the trainand adapted to be disposed thereby to operate the crank shaft, anormally lowered gate for the crossing and means connecting the crankshaft and gate for raising the latter to obstruct the crossing when thecrank shaft is depressed by the passage of the train.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEE YOUNGBLOOD.

